1. Do you feel that your school protects the constitutional
rights of your students effectively?

Yes I Do

2. What do you define as the rights your students have?

I think our students have a right to receive an education, safety
in their school environment, respect.

3. How do these rights compare to those found in the bill of
rights?

At some level they build on democracy, public education is based
on democracy, teaching people with respect and teaching them to use their rights. It's
part of the democratic process. Yes we do deny them rights, but it builds upon their
education. If we didnt do so we wouldnt be able to provide a safe education.

4. Are you familiar with the Supreme Court case Tinker V. Des
Moines?

(Go over these facts from the case)

December 1965 as a protest against the Vietnam War, students
along with their parents decided on Dec. 16 and New Year's Eve they would wear black
armbands. On Dec. 14, the school stated that any student wearing an armband would be asked
to remove it or be suspended. The students were suspended. The courts favored the side of
the school in the lower courts.

The Supreme Court 7:2 stated that the student's rights had been
violated.

"It can hardly argued that either students or teachers shed
their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or the expression at the schoolhouse
gate... On the other hand, the Court has repeatedly emphasized the need for affirming the
comprehensive authority of the States and of school officials, consistent with fundamental
constitutional safeguards, to prescribe and control conduct in the schools...."

"If a regulation were adopted by the school officials
forbidding discussion of the Vietnam conflict, or the expression by any student of
opposition to it anywhere on school property except as part of a prescribed classroom
exercise, it would be obvious that the regulation would materially and substantially
disrupt the work and discipline of the school"

"In our system, students may not be regarded as
closed-circuit recipients of only that which the state chooses to communicate. They may
not be confined to the expression of those sentiments that are officially approved.

"The wearing of armbands in the circumstances of this case
was entirely divorced from actually or potentially disruptive conduct by those
participating in it. It was closely akin to 'pure speech' which, we have repeatedly held,
is entitled to comprehensive protection under the First Amendment."

5. Does the student handbook follow the guidelines set by this
case?

Without reviewing the case in greater detail, I cant say.
The Handbook protects personal expression, students have the ability to express their
opinions in a fashion that does not disrupt the school. Students are responsible for
anything that disrupts school. Recently we had students wear ribbons for sadd and that was
allowed because it didn't disrupt school. Our students have the ability to express
themselves, so long as they do not affect the educational process.